In this issue, we welcome DYCTEAM, a streetwear brand from Taiwan. Constantly looking around for inspiration in daily life and keeping up with recent issues in the world today, DYCTEAM continues to evolve with each collection it reveals.
Nana : What is the story behind the beginning of DYCTEAM?
DYCTEAM : DYCTEAM, stands for “Define Your Character”, is inspired and created by the observation of daily
life. We provide the suited and stylish life wear through applying the unique jacquard and functional materials to bring out further enjoyment and enthusiasm. The product of DYCTEAM focuses on both men and unisex clothing. In every season, there are [Basic] and [wear in Blue] two branches will be released. The classic “Basic” series is based on black and white, which makes it look like a simple style design. This design line creates the feeling of hiding details that will be needed in life and combining the needs of life and environment. Also, the tailoring of DYCTEAM is fantastic.
Nana : Why did you initially create the brand?
DYCTEAM : The “wear in Blue” series, which was first exposed in 2016, used the gorgeous Indigo Jacquard tannin as a fabric boldly. Through time-consuming and complicated tannin washing plan created progress, the DYCTEAM creates the natural color of tannins clothing. This concept allows brands and customers to connect more with “their own” and to redefine the concept of “define your character”. At the end of 2017, the unique “wear in Blue” series was widely recommended by the media, and it has become a sensational brand since then. The designer, Fly, realized that “life attitude and taste” should not be restricted within clothing wearing. It should be starting from the most intimate space as well. Therefore, the “Living with DYCTEAM” home series was created after. From the phone case, notebook, cup, tissue, even sofa and pillow, these items are produced by the tannin fabrics. Furthermore, DYCTEAM is also expected to launch the second wave of “Living
with DYCTEAM” by the end of 2018, to better define ourselves through the series. There is also a highlight on the brand’s seasonal items, that is each product has its unique number, giving the product the most unique specialty to connect more with “their own” and to redefine the concept of “define your character.”
Nana : What are some of the inspirations behind the brand?
DYCTEAM : I think the design inspiration comes from the experience of daily life. The experience of lifestyle is very diverse. For example, if you like the fun of gathering with friends in the city or suburbs after get off work, you may pay attention to the details of the design, such as storage, convenience of activities, and even the function of adapting to cloudy and occasional showers in Taiwan. That’s why our BASIC series came into being. The BASIC collection is styled for everyday wear you can wear to work, but with functional details and materials.
Nana : Can you tell us about some of the most challenging experiences you have had during the process of
building your brand?
DYCTEAM : DYCTEAM is be in line with the global sustainable fashion issues from 2017, and strive to continuously plan products to be made with sustainable materials (using GOTS organic cotton and GRS recycled rayon that meets the SDGs international certification) to make people pay attention to our global environment, because we believe that “words can move people, but only actions can create change.”
Production is not easy, especially for niche brands are difficult to achieve. But we still believe that fashion and earth-friendliness need to relevant.
In recent years, DYCTEAM has been focused on sustainability by using recycled bottles, recycled fibers, organic cotton, and other environmental-friendly materials as part of the design. In its Spring and Summer collection, DYCTEAM uses oyster shells, a waste product often found along Taiwan’s coastline, as the main material and combines it with recycled PET bottles to make “recycled oyster shell fabric.”
One of the prosperous aquacultures in Taiwan is oyster farming, there are around 200,000,000 KG of oyster per year, mostly distributed in the west coast of Taiwan. According to the statistics, there’re around 160,000,000 KG of oyster shells being discarded. These shells are just piling up and cause the awful smell. The raw material of Seawool® is PET bottles and oyster shell powder, we combined these two things together to create the functional yarn. It has exceptional warmth, and environment friendly components from the ocean and post-consumer product as the perfect example of CIRCULAR ECONOMY. DYCTEAM BASIC – Seawool® series applies a special organization design, the fabric has holes in the fabric without visual penetration, increases summer ventilation and comfort, and add 3M fluorine-free (without PECs) water repellent treatment to the fabric with visible holes, corresponding to the humid and rainy climate in Taiwan, providing men’s fashion that is both practical and functional.
The sustainable and stylish design of the DYCTEAM oyster shell fabric series has won the 2021 Golden Pin Design Award and 2022 iF design Award. https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/dycteam-basic-series-seawool-collection/346061
Nana : How do you come up and decide on the themes for your collections?
DYCTEAM: We are a brand that starts with life experience. The themes of each season will also relate to life experiences. It could be a proverb, a fairy tale, or a problem happening all over the world. We have published on themes like “Sisyphus”, “reform”, “Symbiosis”, no matter what, we know the power of DYCTEAM and we will try our best to convey positive thoughts through the brand, just like our own beliefs, we firmly believe If we stay positive and continue to act, good things will welcome us.
Nana : Can we know a little about your next collection?
DYCTEAM : Sure! It is our honor to share our AW22 theme with ASIAN VOICE readers. 2022 is the tenth year of DYCTEAM. INVIGORATE [verb] is the theme.
Ten years as a rank, circle of life. DYCTEAM, has gone through changes, challenges, world epidemics and the process of maturation under difficulties. However, it has also brought valuable experience and bright growth. Harvest comes after sowing, and life continues to face the next gestation. 10th years of DYCTEAM, will not only embrace the spring of living but also integrate the concept of earth friendly, the brand core concept “Define Your Character”, leading to the next decade. Define Your Character, that’s DYCTEAM.
Nana : Is there a particular artist, movie, place, book that you would recommend our readers to
check for inspiration?
DYCTEAM : We all love to read and travel. You can quickly absorb the author’s entire life experience and expertise from reading, and if you have the opportunity, you can even recreate or feel the author’s experience at that time while traveling. We followed the World Fashion Week to Paris, Germany, New York, Japan, Shanghai, and finally back to Taiwan in the brand presentation of each season. Along the way, you’ll be exposed to stories, lifestyles, and the logic of speaking and thinking. Very fun and exciting. Of course, we haven’t been able to go abroad for two years. To read other people’s stories and visit art museums is one of our inspirations.
What we read more recently is the biography type. For example, “Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the
Creator of Nike” and “Elon Musk” are worth reading. (Yes, very different from the list of books you would imagine a designer would read!)
Nana : Do you have any advice for our readers who are seeking to find a way to build a
distinct and clear brand like “DYCTEAM”?
DYCTEAM : Remember the original enthusiasm for the goal at the moment, the other is to persist in doing it!
“Define your Character, that’s DYCTEAM”
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